MDH urges workers at Anoka ammunition plant to have children tested for lead

ANOKA — The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) urges employees of the Federal Ammunition plant in Anoka to have their children tested for lead exposure. The recommendation came after MDH, Anoka County and St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health identified four children with elevated blood lead levels due to exposure to lead dust that was brought home accidentally on the clothing and personal items of family members who work at the plant.

Health officials are concerned there may be other children of plant employees who were exposed to what is known as “take-home lead dust” and have not been tested. Additionally, the company has yet to demonstrate that it has made sufficient changes in the operations at the plant to sufficiently reduce the risk of take-home lead dust.

Health officials learned of the children’s elevated blood lead levels through testing that is part of routine well-child visits conducted by health care providers. Routine screening for blood lead is recommended as a standard of care for children at 1 year and 2 years of age. All four children had blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL), the level at which an assessment of the child’s possible exposures is required.

The first child’s elevated blood lead level was identified in November 2021, and subsequent cases were detected in late 2022 and early 2023. The series of cases indicates an ongoing expo- sure problem requiring additional prevention actions.

Federal Ammunition uses lead to produce ammunition for a variety of sporting firearms.

While elevated blood lead levels in children are typically associated with in-home exposures to lead-based paint, investigators in these cases determined that the children’s high levels were linked to take-home lead dust. In the absence of appropriate industrial hygiene practices, lead dust can accumulate on workers’ bodies, clothing, shoes and personal items, and may be brought home unknowingly. Because lead dust is heavy, it can accumulate in homes and vehicles and is not easily removed. Family members living with the workers who bring lead dust home can ingest the lead dust, which can accumulate in their bodies.

In each of the children’s homes, health investigators did not find lead paint or other usual sources of lead. Dust wipe samples found lead in areas such as car floors, the bottoms of the shoes the parents wear to work and floors where parents leave their work shoes.

Due to issues not directly related to the first case, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry in late 2021 issued citations for violations of OSHA lead standards. As part of its resolution of those citations, it required the plant managers to implement measures to improve its changing rooms, which would reduce the amount of lead dust workers take home from the plant. Since that time, three additional cases associated with the plant were detected. MDH has communicated with plant managers about the take-home lead exposure cases. However, these recent cases are evidence that lead dust continues to leave the facility and prompted MDH to make this notification.

MDH, St. Paul - Ramsey County Public Health and Anoka County Public Health are working with the families of identified cases. They also want to ensure all at-risk workers and family members are tested and that families have access to information on reducing lead exposure.

Workers are encouraged to connect with their primary health care provider to ensure that all children up to age 17 and pregnant household members receive a blood lead test. Workers at the plant may also wish to be tested if they have not received occupational blood lead testing through their employer. In addition, there is one remaining free blood testing event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Asian Americans in STEM Day at the Science Museum of Minnesota. No admission will be required, and parking will be validated for those seeking testing.

More information and resources on lead can be found on the MDH website.

From press release

• The following students were named to the St. Olaf College dean’s list for the fall 2022 semester: Matthew Tesfatsion of Circle Pines; Cayla Schreier of Hugo; Hannah Anderson and Anthony Rink of Lino Lakes.

• The following student earned their degree from St. Cloud State University during the fall semester of 2022: Bethany Krueger of Circle Pines, Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Studies.

• The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point honored more than 2,350 undergraduate students for attaining high grade point averages during the fall semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. Students who received honors include: Madeline Andrle of Blaine, high honors; Brandon Wagner of Blaine, honors; Grace Torma of Centerville, highest honors; Samuel Barrett of Circle Pines, high honors; Jadyn Clarner of Lino Lakes, honors.

• The following area students have been named to the dean's list at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year: Shane Garber and Tyler Neuman of Blaine; Kiera Selbitschka of Circle Pines; Hannah Meyer and Jillian Neudahl of Hugo; Grant Albin, Ellie Breunig, Riley Gent, Courtney Osmek and Christina Ries of Lino Lakes.

• The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire awarded 613 degrees in December 2022. Of the degrees awarded, 609 were received by students attending the Eau Claire campus and four were received by students attending UW-Eau Claire - Barron County. Local students who received degrees and their fields include Anna Kuny of Hugo, who eaerned a Bachelor of Science in communication sciences and disorders.

• Eighteen Minnesota State women's hockey student-athletes have been selected to the 2022-23 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team, as announced by conference officials.

The WCHA All-Academic Team includes student-athletes who have completed one year of eligibility at their present institutions prior to the academic year, and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in their previous two semesters or three quarters. These students include Calla Frank of Hugo.

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• Officers responded to the 0 block of Edge Drive in Circle Pines for a warrant arrest Feb. 9.

• Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Hunter’s Trail and Centerville Road Feb. 11. A verbal warning was given.

• Officers received a delayed report of a traffic violation that occurred in the area of Edgewood Road and Dunlap Avenue in Lexington Feb. 11. The case is open pending follow-up.

• Officers responded to a theft report in the 9200 block of South Highway Drive in Lexington.

• Officers located an abandoned vehicle in the area of Lake Drive and Griggs Avenue in Circle Pines Feb. 12. The vehicle was towed.

• An officer observed multiple traffic violations near the intersection of Lake Drive and Griggs Avenue in Lexington Feb. 12. A probable-cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and the officer issued verbal warnings.

• Officers were dispatched to a report of a house on fire on Shepherd Court in Circle Pines Feb. 12. Officers responded and assisted the fire department on the scene.

• Officers were dispatched to Cobbler Court in Circle Pines to meet with an ambulance crew that had found drug paraphernalia while on a medical call Feb. 13.

The Lino Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• An officer was advised of a delayed school bus stop-arm violation in the 7700 block of 20th Avenue Feb. 7. The officer was able to identify the driver and issued a citation for the violation.

• An officer responded to a local auto repair shop in the 7300 block of Lake Drive for a vehicle theft report Feb. 8. The adult male suspected was arrested a short time later, and the vehicle was recovered. The male was booked at jail and charges are pending.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 700 block of Main Street Feb. 9 and found the driver to be intoxicated. After testing, the driver was issued a citation for DWI and released to a sober party.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for speeding and illegal driving conduct in the 700 block of Main Street

Feb. 11 The adult male driver was ultimately arrested and booked for DWI-related offenses.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation in the area of Lake Drive and Apollo Drive Feb. 11. The passenger was identified because of a seatbelt violation and was later arrested on an outstanding warrant. The suspect was booked at Anoka County Jail.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for displaying suspended registration in the 7900 block of Lake Drive Feb. 11. A juvenile male was charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of a false identification.

• An officer stopped a driver for repeatedly driving without a driver’s license in the 6400 block of I-35E Feb. 11. The male was arrested and booked at jail.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for illegal driving conduct in the 7700 block of 20th Avenue North Feb. 11. The adult male driver was arrested for fourth-degree DWI and was later released to a sober adult.

• An officer responded to a report of counterfeit currency being used in the 500 block of Apollo Drive Feb. 12. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for illegal driving conduct and speeding in the 7500 block of Main Street Feb. 12. An adult male passenger was arrested and booked at jail on an outstanding warrant and for violating an order for protection. The adult driver was given a warning for their driving conduct and speeding.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation in the 7600 block of 20th Avenue North Feb. 12. The odor of marijuana was apparent to the officer, and it was discovered the juvenile passenger was in possession of numerous controlled substances. Evidence was obtained and the case was referred for charging.

• An officer stopped a vehicle for expired registration in the 2100 block of Main Street Feb. 13. The driver was ultimately arrested and booked for a DWI-related offense.

• Officers responded to a report of a possible intoxicated driver in the 6500 block of Hodgson Road Feb. 13. The officers located the vehicle and the driver was subsequently arrested for DWI.

Fatal crash in Circle Pines

CIRCLE PINES – On Feb. 19 at approximately 2:39 a.m., a police officer with the Centennial Lakes Police Department was outside of the Centennial Lakes Police Department station located at 54 North Road in the city of Circle Pines. While in the parking lot, they observed a motor vehicle crash into a snowbank and roll over. Indications show that the vehicle was traveling eastbound on North Road when it crashed into the snowbank. Responders with the Centennial Lakes Police Department, Columbia Heights Police Department, Centennial Fire District and Allina EMS arrived at the scene and located a male who had been ejected from the vehicle. Life saving measures were administered but unfortunately the male was declared deceased at the scene. This incident is under investigation by the Centennial Lakes Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office and Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

From press release